Commuter "Non Cyclists" W@nkers

TJ I know the road and it is plenty wide enough to let cars past when you are single file ...just shows the dangers of letting MTB ers loose on the road near a trail centre IMHO. You could easily place a siglebike wide enough out say PP [ primary position] and them not get past legally. I would pull in a bit personally to let them past.
I learnt you cant teach gwj72 anything as he can selectively filter all information to just re affirm his view.

There is something missing from your passing bikes mathematical equation.
The distance between the two bikes! Think about it.... Makes a **** nonsense of your statement that it's as easy to pass 2 as 1 when they are riding 6 feet apart rather than 2 doesn't it? As does the width of the road and the car and for that matter how steady the cyclists are riding (I give more room to "swervers").

It's just not all black and white like you would like it to be. Sorry.

Each lane on that road can easily and safely accomodate a vehicle and a cyclist side-by-side with enough room that should the cyclist extend their arm they would not touch the vehicle - ok?

Add in the width of another cyclist and there is not enough room for everyone - ok?

Just because the cyclists are allowed to ride two-up (although the HC does state that there are occasions when it is innapropriate) does not mean that particular section of road is the right one to do it on.

Conversely, had they been on road bikes and moving quicker (another 10mph say) they would have been fine, as they would then have been moving somewhere near the vehicular traffic speed.

The combination of the road, riding two-up and riding very slow caused a needless traffic snarl up when a little consideration would have allowed everyone to proceed peacefully.

TJ - you don't live in the real world do you. A REAL cyclist who actually knows the road (unlike you) has been happily past whilst riding single file countless times and feels safe in the situation. What's your problem?

BTW - I don't agree with your understanding of that particular rule/guidance. I would say that it implies that you should leave the same amount of space between your vehicle and the cyclist as you would between your vehicle and another motor vehicle - i.e. 2 or 3 feet. A courteous rider would ride close enough to the kerb in this situation so that the car could pass within the line whist maintaining that safe distance. I am more than happy with that amount of space whilst riding - are you not?

TJ I know the road and it is plenty wide enough to let cars past when you are single file ...just shows the dangers of letting MTB ers loose on the road near a trail centre IMHO. You could easily place a siglebike wide enough out say PP [ primary position] and them not get past legally. I would pull in a bit personally to let them past.
I learnt you cant teach gwj72 anything as he can selectively filter all information to just re affirm his view.

MDwarf you are correct but when you experience this you still need to respect them and ONLY overtake when/if it is safe to do so as per the Highway code. If you do it and clip them hot them it will be your fault especially where there is no overtaking. slow moving road users can annoy but you cannot get wound up and do something daft to get past them and think it is their fault.

2 or 3 feet clearance between a cycle and a passing car is not enough - nor is it enough when passing another car

You need to look at the other bits about passing vulnerable road users.

I cannot believe the attitude of so called cyclists on here who want cyclists to be pushed into the gutter so as the cars can push past in an unsafe manner.

There is something missing from your passing bikes mathematical equation.
The distance between the two bikes! Think about it.... Makes a **** nonsense of your statement that it's as easy to pass 2 as 1 when they are riding 6 feet apart rather than 2 doesn't it?

No = because the correct road position for a single cyclist is further out from the kerb than the inside cyclist when riding two abreast

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Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.

Just because you are happy to ride in the gutter adn let cars squeeze past unsafely does not mean we all should.

MD I know you have no car as i read your original post sorry for being unclear in my reply.

2 or 3 feet clearance between a cycle and a passing car is not enough - nor is it enough when passing another car

how far do you want then between the cars as i suspect this will just stop ovetaking ..how close is the vehicle coming in the opposite lane to you when you are in a car?

I cannot believe the attitude of so called cyclists on here who want cyclists to be pushed into the gutter so as the cars can push past in an unsafe manner.

I cannot believe someone who has not ridden a road is telling two of us who have how best to ride it. As we both said we could take up a position to stop them overtaking us but we feel it is safe to let them ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD so we take up a position that allows them to overtake us with what we consider enough room. Is this ok with you?

I cannot believe the attitude of so called cyclists on here who want cyclists to be pushed into the gutter so as the cars can push past in an unsafe manner.

Drama queen. Who's pushing anyone into the gutter? Tssh.

No = because the correct road position for a single cyclist is further out from the kerb than the inside cyclist when riding two abreast

Oh I get it. So you just basically take as much of the road up as you can? If your short on numbers to really snarl things up - either move out or consider carrying some step ladders across your shoulders.

This is utter comedy. Are you the paramilitary wing of the CTC? When your interviewed on TV does an actor do you voice?

I didn't catch any cars on my bike earlier. But I'm off to tesco now in my 300bhp lump of metal. I hope those pesky "cyclists" are on their toes....

fair enough - but I suspect what you think is safe and what the highway code thinks is safe is a different thing - I would want 70 cm at least from the kerb / road edge and 1m + between the car and me if I was letting them by.

perhaps I can just go in a straight line better than you
It depends on the road i generally ride PP but there a few places where there is no need to do this tbh so I dont and I take up less room to let cars past.

That was a great little blast to the shop. I came up behind a gentlemen's cycling club on a perambulate around the villages. Leaving barely room to twiddle a moustache I accelerated into the pack leaving them picking spokes from their beards at the side of the road! It felt good in my tummy that.

So, I'm off out again to Oldham tomorrow. If anyone is thinking of acting like a cyclist in those parts tomorrow, then know this... I am specifically targeting Hi-Vis garments and cycle clips. Anybody seen consulting the highway code after the incident will be reversed over. This is my only warning > |

Can't believe this thread is so long - its quite obvious that what Martin is refering to is against the RulesThe Rules
Hey, and lets face it, if your not playing The Game, should you even be out there ?

2 or 3 feet clearance between a cycle and a passing car is not enough - nor is it enough when passing another car

I dunno, I'd be happy with that tbh. Maybe I'm judging my distances wrong but I'd say that's more than you get normally in either form of transport. It's the people that give you about 6 inches that are the problem. Or those that give you no room at all

Quite often ride two abreast, it's the easiest way to have a chat whilst cycling. Which is a friendly, fun activity for me At some point in the past roads were a pleasant place to be and not simply a way to get from A to B as quickly as possible. Would be good if more people remembered those days...

Sorry, I can't be bothered in reading every single post...
But, there are two types of people who ride bicycles on the road...

A) Cyclists - People who have some idea of safe riding. They have bikes which are in roadworthy condition, they know where to look, they know how and where to position their bike. Some ride like assholes, but they generally can take care of themselves...

B) Bike owners - These are people who have a bike, so point it in the direction of their destination and start mashing "those angled bits you put your feet on" until they get there. They have no interest in the finer art of bike control or looking after their bike. They often have no helmet, no proper clothing and certainly have no concept of concentrating on their surroundings... Rolling liabilities! I have seen these people ride through red lights without even looking to see if there is anything coming, people riding on flat tyres, forks fitted backwards, bikes with no brakes, over-extended stems and/or seatposts (usually because it's a kids bike). Morons.
I even saw a guy (wearing black from head to toe) riding in the dark at winter no lights, helmet etc riding with both hands in his jeans pockets (presumably because his bare hands were cold) whilst listening to his ipod or whatever... Total fuc*tard!
The number of times i've heard people say "No, brake blocks are too expensive, I won't bother"
The whole problem with group B is compounded with Cycle To Work Scheme as many are buying bikes only because they are cheap (or atleast they think they will be)...
I have worked in bike shops for 11 years (but not any more), and I can safely say that aforementioned group B need a slap across the back of the head. Should have been wearing a helmet...